Lack of affordable housing sends Sussex man to live in Italy
In mid-1990, Howard L. Gorrell got tired of hopping from one rental unit to another rental unit and contacted a local weekly newspaper about the lack of affordable non-subsidized apartments. In 2010, Gorrell talked with the manager of the Harbour Towne Apartments in Lewes who cautioned him that the waiting-list process would take 18 months to four years.
In November 2016, Gorrell moved back to Delaware from eastern Washington state and rented a room in his longtime friend’s Ocean View house since that friend was working in another state during the school year.
In September 2017, at the age of 74, Gorrell found out about an age-restricted apartment complex in Long Neck called Carillon Woods. He noticed that a one-bedroom apartment could cost as little as $800 per month, so he signed up and was placed 77th on the list for the 192 units. Later, he noticed that there were a few construction delays. When Gorrell asked the Carillon Woods manager when the first of six 32-unit buildings would be ready, she said, “Winter of 2018.” He figured that his number 77 might come up at least in the third building.
It was Dec. 13, 2017, when a Sussex County Council workshop discussed the lack of affordable housing. The Delaware State Housing Authority stated that the fair market rent for a one-bedroom unit would be $730 monthly, according to the Sussex County Comprehensive Plan draft report.
Experienced in getting frustrated at finding an affordable place in this coastal area for nearly four decades, Gorrell got a bright idea for residing while waiting to be called up by Carillon Woods – renting Airbnb properties in Italy. No background is required. No deposit is needed. There is no waiting.
Why in Italy? It could enable Gorrell to balance between researching on his dad's war experience and exploring Italy, as well as perfecting his 2019 Italian tour plan for the descendants of the 85th Infantry Division in September 2019.
After attending the 2018 World Deaf Team Tennis Championship (also called the Dresse Cup for Deaf Men and the Maere Cup for Deaf Women) in Antalya, Turkey, Sept. 22-29, and then taking a quick tour of Istanbul, Gorrell will move into an Airbnb property in the vicinity of Belluno, Italy, Oct. 11 and stay there for 28 days. He learned that if a person stays at an Airbnb property for at least 28 days, a significant monthly discount is possible. Belluno is the city his dad's 337th Infantry Regiment occupied after the German surrender. Staying in this area will enable him to research the 85th Infantry Regiment's history from March 1945 to July 1945.
In early November, Gorrell will move to San Piero a Sieve, Italy, for his 28-day November stays. It is only 20 bus-riding minutes to the War Museum about the Gothic Line (September 1944 to March 1945). This village is 45 rail minutes to the Florence Rail Station.
For his December stays, Gorrell will select one Airbnb property in the area of Roma after receiving his Social Security benefit in mid-September. The research will cover the war route from Minuturno on May 11, 1945, to Rome on June 4, 1944.
